Cristiano Ronaldo scored his eighth UEFA Champions League hat-trick as Juventus defeat Atletico Madrid 3-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals on a 3-2 aggregate.
‘Form’ they say ‘is temporary, but class is permanent.’ The Portugal international showed his class on the 27th minute, when he headed the home side in front.
Four minutes after the break he headed in Juventus’ second goal. Though it seemed Jan Oblak had saved the ball, goal line tech confirmed the ball crossed the line.
At this point aggregate scores stood at 2-2. If it ends like that, the match will go into extra time and penalty shootout.
But, Ronaldo rose to the occasion as he converted an 86th minute penalty to give the Italian Old Ladies the day. The former Real Madrid’s hit man has now scored 124 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
In the other match played at the Etihad Stadium, Sergio Aguero scored a brace while Sterling, Sane, Bedrnado Silva, Foden and Gabriel Jesus scored a goal each as Manchester City crushed Schalke 7-0 to qualify for the quarter-final on a 10-2 aggregate score.
Wednesday will be the turn of Lionel Messi to show the stuff he is made of when his club, Barcelona lurk horns with Lyon at the Nou Camp. In the other match, Liverpool will travel to Germany to take on German champions, Bayern Munich. The first leg of both matches ended goalless.
